Rita Massman

Rita Massman, age 81 of Melrose, formerly of Osakis passed away on Wednesday, April 9 at the Parkview Care Center in Melrose, A Mass of Resurrection will be held on Saturday, April 12 at 10:30 am at the Immaculate Conception Church in Osakis. Interment is at the Calvary Cemetery in Osakis, Visitation hours are from 4 - 8 pm on Friday evening at the Roy-Hetland Funeral Home with Christian Mothers rosary at 7 pm and the parish prayer service at 7:30 pm. There will also be a one hour visitation at the church on Saturday morning before the service.

Life History for Rita Massman
Rita Massman, age 81 of Melrose, formerly of Osakis entered her new life on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 from the Parkview Care Center in Melrose, MN.
On February 7, 1933 Rita was born to Joseph and Mary (Herzog) Dickhaus in Melrose, MN. She grew up in Melrose and after school began working as a waitress. On June 21, 1955 Rita married the love of her life, Godfrey Massman at the Church of St. Mary in Melrose, MN. They moved to a farm northeast of Lake Osakis and farmed there for over 52 years. Rita was a member of the Immaculate Conception parish in Osakis and also belonged to the Christian Mothers Confraternity.
Beside living and working with her husband on the farm, Rita also enjoyed dancing, traveling and going snowmobiling. She had a talent for sewing and doing handiwork. She made beautiful quilts and embroidery projects that she gifted to family members and friends. Rita also had a green thumb for growing and had such bountiful strawberries and raspberries that she could sell the extra produce. She was a great cook, spoiling her family with homemade breads and pies. Many batches of jellies came out of her kitchen. She also enjoyed raising beautiful flowers in her flower garden each summer. She belonged to the Gordon Community club and enjoyed getting together to socialize with her neighbors and friends. Rita moved back to live in Melrose in 2007. She was a hard-working, kind and loving mother, grandma, great grandma and sister who will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
She is survived by her children, Gary (Pam) Massman of Dripping Springs, TX, Jan (Rich) Thomas of Coon Rapids, Theresa (Greg) Marthaler and Dale (Julie) Massman, all of Osakis, Darrel (Kelly) Massman of Decatur, IN, Melissa 'Missy' (J.P.) Gregory of Fort Wayne, IN; 13 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; two brothers, Richard (Pat) Dickhaus of Melrose and Wally Dickhaus of Mt.View, AR; 2 sisters, Lorraine Borgerding of Sauk Centre and Erma Poepping of Melrose, MN.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Godfrey Massman (2012), a sister, Elizabeth Kantor and an infant sister, Donna Dickhaus.
A Mass of Resurrection will be held for Rita on Saturday, April 12, 2014 at 10:30 am at the Immaculate Conception church in Osakis with Fr. Andrew Marthaler officiating. Readers are Chelsey Thomas and Kaleigh Massman. Gift bearers are Paige & Alex Gregory. Crossbearer will be her daughter, Theresa Marthaler. Interment is at the Calvary Cemetery in Osakis, MN with active pallbearers her grandchildren, Jason and Eric Marthaler, Zachary and Dakota Massman, Stefanie Solorio and Jenifer Wanderscheid.